"We are required by council to not only disclose that, but get their approval in advance of the particular event," explained Emergency Management Director Mel Kaku.

In a letter sent to members of the Honolulu City Council Wednesday, Emergency Management Director Mel Kaku is requesting to expand the use of surveillance cameras during the Dec. 8 Honolulu Marathon. Such authority would come in the form of a resolution passed by the council.

"We are required by council to not only disclose that, but get their approval in advance of the particular event," explained Kaku.

Under current city ordinance, surveillance cameras are only allowed in Chinatown and Waikiki as a deterrent to crime. Kaku says the city may erect as many as 12 of the all-seeing, electronic eyes along so-called marathon "blind spots," but that number could grow.

"We believe those are the absolute minimum," said Kaku. "Like anything else, we could always want more."

A spokeswoman for Council Chairman Ernie Martin said the resolution authorizing the use of surveillance cameras during the marathon will likely be heard next Tuesday by the Public Safety and Economic Development Committee. A required public hearing and final passage would likely occur during the full City Council hearing Nov. 13.

Honolulu Marathon organizers say the request for surveillance cameras comes after the Boston Marathon bombings of April 15. Two brothers, Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, are suspected of planting pressure cooker bombs along the finish line of the race that killed three people and injured hundreds more. Since the deadly attack, at least one U.S. marathon has used surveillance cameras to monitor both participants and spectators.

"They were used at the Oct. 13 Chicago Marathon, and they're also anticipating use of these security cameras at the upcoming New York Marathon," said Ricky Taniguchi, the Honolulu Marathon's deputy race director in charge of security. "We endeavor to keep this race safe for all the participants, the spectators and the volunteers as well."

It's not known how much the installation of surveillance cameras could cost taxpayers, since discussions with Honolulu Marathon officials are ongoing. However, the resolution authorizing their use states some cameras could remain in place once the race is over to help monitor traffic as well as public facilities.

"There's no need to put them up and take them down, it's prohibitive in terms of cost to keep repeating that," said Kaku. "It'll serve the public in the long term."

Still, some Oahu residents aren't sold on the idea of Big Brother remaining put once the last marathoner has crossed the finish line at Kapiolani Park.

"They're not necessarily needed, especially since we live in a digital age where everybody's around (and) everybody has cameras," said Waikiki resident Terran Carter. "That money could go towards things that are really necessary right now."

Kahaluu resident Rod Martin took a similar tact, saying Honolulu is an unlikely target for terrorism, and surveillance cameras would not necessarily deter an attack.

"If it'll make the runners feel safer, I don't mind," said Martin. "But, I just think it's unnecessary; it's not going to be a problem."

During last week's Chicago Marathon, race organizers installed barriers, used undercover police officers and required all marathoners to use clear plastic bags for their belongings. Taniguchi said the clear plastic bag requirement will also be used during the 41st running of the Honolulu Marathon.

"Primarily, it's to ease monitoring of what's in the bags," said Taniguchi.

The Honolulu Marathon is expected to attract about 25,000 runners, 10,000 volunteers and countless more spectators. Taniguchi said the race spends about $100,000 on security and employs about 370 special duty police officers on race day.

Runners competing in this year's Honolulu Marathon won't be the only ones on their mark... surveillance cameras COULD be watching your every move. Good evening. I'm Paula Akana. And I'm Yunji De Nies. After the bombings in Boston, organizers of the Honolulu Marathon are leaving nothing to chance. But before additional surveillance cameras can go up, the City Council must give a thumb's up to the idea. KITV4's Andrew Pereira joins us with more in tonights top story. Andrew? Yunji, Paula... under current city ordinance, surveillance cameras are only allowed in two specific areas. Just like finishing the 26-mile race, securing the Honolulu Marathon is no easy task. MEL KAKU: "WE ANTICIPATE ABOUT 25,000 RUNNERS AS WELL AS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 VOLUNTEERS AND OBVIOUSLY A HUGE AMOUNT OF FOLKS THAT WILL BE VERY INTERESTED." On Wednesday, the city's Department of Emergency Management sent a letter to the City Council requesting passage of a resolution that would authorize the use of surveillance cameras along the marathon route. MEL KAKU: "WE ARE REQUIRED BY COUNCIL TO NOT ONLY DISCLOSE THAT, BUT GET THEIR APPROVAL IN ADVANCE OF THE PARTICULAR EVENT." ROD MARTIN: "IF IT'LL MAKE THE RUNNERS FEEL SAFER I DON'T MIND. BUT, I JUST THINK IT'S UNNECESSARY, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM." Under current city ordinance, surveillance cameras can only be used in Waikiki and Chinatown to deter crime. Seeking authority to mount additional cameras comes after the Boston Marathon bombings in April that killed three people and injured hundreds more. Since then, at least one U.S. marathon has used the all- seeing, electronic eyes. RICK TANIGUCHI: "THEY WERE USED AT THE OCT. 13, I BELIEVE CHICAGO MARATHON, AND THEY'RE ALSO ANTICIPATING USE OF THESE SECURITY CAMERAS AT THE UPCOMING NEW YORK MARATHON." ANDREW PEREIRA: "ACCORDING TO THE RESOLUTION, SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS USED DURING THE MARATHON, LIKE HERE AT THE FINISH LINE AT KAPIOLANI PARK, MAY REMAIN IN PLACE TO MONITOR KEY ENTRY POINTS INTO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, OR PUBLIC FACILITIES." MEL KAKU: "THERE'S NO NEED TO PUT THEM UP AND TAKE THEM DOWN, IT'S PROHIBITIVE IN TERMS OF COST TO KEEP REPEATING THAT. AND, IT'LL SERVE THE PUBLIC IN THE LONGTERM." Waikiki resident Terran Carter has no problem with surveillance cameras during the marathon, but objects to Big Brother staying put once the race is over. TERRAN CARTER: "THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY NEEDED, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE LIVE IN A DIGITAL AGE WHERE EVERYBODY'S AROUND, EVERYBODY HAS CAMERAS, AND THAT MONEY COULD GO TOWARDS THINGS THAT ARE REALLY NECESSARY RIGHT NOW." How much the surveillance cameras may cost taxpayers is unknown... those discussions are currently underway with the Honolulu Marathon. The city envisions 12 surveillance cameras for the race, but that number COULD grow. Under city ordinance, the general locations of cameras must be published in the newspaper 10-days BEFORE